Introduction

Just released into the retail space from ASUS, sporting one of AMD's latest 9-series chipsets, the M5A99X EVO is a mainstream-oriented full-size ATX product equipped with the new AMD 990X chipset. With AMD set to release a slew of new CPUs and APUs in the near future, the ASUS M5A99X EVO's release is a pre-emptive strike, allowing users an easy incremental upgrade using their current AM3 CPUs, so their systems are ready and waiting for the upcoming AMD AM3+ CPU/APU launch. With a standard black and blue color scheme, the M5A99X EVO, like its EVO brethren, seeks to punish the competition, offering several exclusive features not seen elsewhere. Will it turn the competition black and blue, or does the color scheme hint that it's going to take a few lumps itself? We put it in the ring, and see what sort of fighter it really is.